Franchise Fees

We currently pay $5.50 each month on our electric bills, and another $4 a month on our gas bills. Most residents don't even realize this fee exists. That might be why the city council is talking about increasing the fees, so you won't notice it the way you might notice a tax levy. Worst of all, working households can deduct property taxes from their Federal and State income tax, but these fees are NOT deductible. Moving these fees back to the tax assessment will at least help working-class families reduce their other taxes a bit.

$25.89 Million dollars of debt, with $80 Million more on the way!

Forest Lake is currently exopected to pay $25.89 Million dollars through 2041 to pay off our current debt. The Ten Year plan calls for $20 million in debt issuance over the next three years for water and sewer alone. The Public Works Facility, if it is passed the way it is designed right now, will be another $40 Million, and the North Shore Trail Project includes needed road repairs, but also includes expanding the trail system, new curbs and gutters and signage, which brings the project up to around $19 Million for a stretch of road that serves only the lake front commmunity. 

Apartment Buildings are coming

Like it or not, Forest Lake is in the ideal place for dual income households and commuters who need to be in either of the cities, far enough out to still feel like a small town, but close enough to commute in less than an hour. Complying with the Metro Council and zoning, maintaining the small town feel, all while respecting property owners’ rights to build on their own land is going to be a balancing act.

Transparency

Many of the issues I'm pointing out have happened because our current system disperses information so ineffectively. Changing a few policies on how and where this information is located on the city's existing website will go a long way to helping inform all of us on what's happening in our community, and since we already have this website, and resources to update it, these changes don't need to cost a lot of money to implement.

NO on $8,000 e-bikes subsidies

Taxpayer money shouldn't fund luxury e-bikes. Let's prioritize needs over wants.

NO on $130,000 lawn mowers

Buy smart, not oversized. Demand competitive bids and right-sized tools.

NO on $40M public works buildings

Prioritize maintenance over monuments. Invest prudently in essentials. Right Sized projects.

YES on Jamie Deitchman

A common-sense, frugal voice for Forest Lake families.